I’ve been thinking about different ways to help kids learn good behavior and manners. My nephew is 7 and sometimes struggles with sharing and following rules, so I’m wondering if educational games might actually work better than just talking to him about it.
Has anyone here tried using games (board games, video games, or even made-up games) to teach things like cooperation, honesty, or patience? Did you see any real improvements in their behavior outside of game time? I’m curious if there’s any research on this or just personal experiences from parents/teachers.
Cooperative board games made a huge difference for us. My kids learned teamwork without realizing it was a lesson. Card games helped with patience too - waiting for turns became natural after playing regularly.
I remember when my child struggled with frustration during activities. We tried playing cooperative games, and it was a game changer for him. Initially, he would get upset with setbacks, but as we continued to play, I saw him begin to approach problems with a more positive attitude. It even reflected in how he tackled homework and chores. It’s fascinating how games can create a playful environment for kids to work through challenges without the stress of real-life stakes.
Games definitely helped with my kids when they were younger, though I learned that some work better than others. My son was around that age when he had trouble with taking turns and getting frustrated easily. We started playing simple card games like Uno, and watching him learn to handle losing without melting down took time but really paid off.
What surprised me was how much role-playing games helped with empathy. We’d make up stories where he had to be different characters, and I could see him starting to think about how other people felt. It wasn’t instant, but over a few months, he got better at understanding when his sister was upset or when friends needed space.
The tricky part is finding games that match what you’re trying to work on. Some games actually made competition worse before it got better I had to be ready to pause and talk through moments when things got heated. But once they got used to playing together nicely, that behavior started showing up during regular activities too. Just don’t expect overnight changes - it took consistent game time over several weeks before I saw real improvements.
My 5-year-old gets really upset when things don’t go her way, so we’ve been trying simple matching games and puzzles together. I noticed she handles disappointment a little better now, but I’m still figuring out which activities actually help. Do you think the age matters a lot for this approach? Sometimes I wonder if she’s too young to really connect the game lessons to real situations.
Games have worked really well with my kids for building these kinds of skills. We play simple board games that require waiting turns and sharing pieces, and I’ve watched both my children get better at patience through playing together. What I found helpful is picking games that naturally require the behavior you want to see. For sharing, cooperative games where everyone works toward the same goal have been great. My kids started helping each other more during regular playtime after we did these together. The biggest thing I noticed is they don’t feel like they’re being taught a lesson - they just have fun and pick up the skills along the way. I always make sure to point out when they’re being patient or helpful during games, which seems to help them remember those moments later.
I had to be ready to pause and talk through moments when things got heated. But once they got used to playing together nicely, that behavior started showing up during regular activities too. Just don’t expect overnight changes - it took consistent game time over several weeks before I saw real improvements.